From Pine Point and Springfield, to Dover-Eyota and Brainerd, what are the compelling practices or programs at any level of education, from early childhood through adult education, across Great Minnesota? MREA wants to know. MREA looks to its membership each year to identify their best practices and enter their accomplishments in MREA’s annual Profiles of Excellence awards program. Annually the association recognizes member … Read More
Education Conference Committee Appointed
Legislators were appointed last week to the committee that will negotiate many of the details of the education finance and policy provisions that have survived the process thus far and provide a shared plan for a final vote. Rep. Jennifer Loon (GOP-Eden Prairie) and Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-North St. Paul) will serve as co-chairs of the Education Conference Committee. View MREA’s side-by-side … Read More
Districts Face Cuts With 1&1 Funding Proposal
From Canby and Caledonia to Fergus Falls and Breckenridge, MREA members are speaking out and asking for more regarding the Minnesota legislature’s proposed general education funding increase of 1 percent each of the next two years (commonly referred to as “1&1 on the formula”). Letters to newspaper editors and community members from rural school administrators across Minnesota indicate teacher cuts, fewer class electives, and … Read More
Big Education Issues at Play
Both the Senate and the House have approved their education plan and the Education Conference Committee has been appointed to negotiate and develop the final education plan for Minnesota. View the Committee members. Here’s a look at the big issues at play: The Formula Stuck at ‘1&1’ or less, the proposed investments in the basic formula are still too low … Read More
Take Survey, Tell MREA What's Working
MREA is asking members to complete by May 8 the 2015 Member Survey. Member feedback regarding communications, programs, and other topics of importance to rural education is valuable to helping MREA be the Voice for Greater Minnesota Education. Please take a few minutes to complete a short member survey. Whether you are a teacher, school board member, principal, or other administrator, the feedback you to provide MREA’s Board of Directors will help them make … Read More
Get Economist's Perspective on Early Learning at Conference
Two economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis proposed over a decade ago that any economic development plan needed to place early childhood development at the top of its strategies because it provided a huge economic return on investment (ROI). To give rural educators and school board members an economist’s perspective on investing in early learning, Rob Grunewald will share his and Art Rolnick’s work at MREA’s … Read More
What's in House, Senate Education Bills?
The House passed its omnibus education bill on Saturday after heavy criticism about it falling short of what is needed for education in Minnesota. The Senate omnibus education budget bill (SF 811) is expected to be heard – and passed in some form – on the floor on Wednesday. The Senate bill includes a variety of provisions to support education. View … Read More
House Education Bill Passes 69-61
The House convened in session on Saturday to take up its omnibus education bill, HF 844. After several hours of debate, legislators added two substantive amendments and passed the bill 69-61. View what’s in the bill and how it compares to the Senate bill. Teacher Licensure Rep. Dean Urdahl (GOP-Grove City) was successful in getting more flexibility around passage of MTLE exams with … Read More
Success for SPED Program in Final Hours
Well into the late hours of Thursday evening, the Senate Finance Committee reviewed the omnibus E-12 budget bill (SF 811) and a handful of amendments offered to shuffle funds within the bill. Legislators added one amendment to slightly reduce the new long-term maintenance levy program to add $1 million each year to Head Start funding. The new long-term maintenance levy program … Read More
Understanding Brain Development & Early Learning
Research on early brain development is exponentially expanding with striking implications for early learning. To help rural educators be at the cutting edge of early learning in their community, Drs. Kathleen Thomas and Michele Mazzocco will give you a look inside the brain and the development of reasoning at MREA’s 2015 Annual Conference. The conference on“Great Beginnings: When Learning Starts Early, Inspires and Applies” will … Read More